Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Clint Camilleri has aksed the agricultural directorate to evaluate the reccomendations put forward by farmers following a number of consultation meetings.

These meetings were being led by Professor Evaraldo Attard, an expert at the National Hub for Ethnobotanics. These meetings led to a number of recommendations, the most prominent of which is the setting up of a local laboratory to carry out the necessary testing on local produce to help clear the air on the use of pesticides in Malta.

The Malta Independent on Sunday had reported how farmers and local produce sellers have been through a particularly rough patch in recent months as reports in the media have cast doubt on the pesticides being used by local field workers. The sale of local fruit and vegetable decreased immensely as the public feared that the pesticides used in fruit and vegetable production was tainting the authenticity of local produce. Genuinely concerned farmers have approached the authorities in an attempt to clear the bad name of local fruit and vegetables.

Following the meetings, a report was drafted which included a number of recommendations. This newsroom contacted Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri for a comment and asked whether the government would be taking up such recommendations.

“The Parliamentary Secretary welcomes such meetings as we believe in the direct contact with the relevant stakeholders. We will ask the agricultural directorate to evaluate the farmer’s proposals.” The spokesperson said that the directorate will be asked to evaluate even the recommendation which fall under other ministries.

“We need to increase the awareness of the quality of local produce and the government is committed to work towards this aim.” The Secretariat has recently launched a campaign on local wine produce called ‘Wines of Distinction’.

Besides the setting up of a local testing lab, the farmers’ representatives also listed another 10 recommendations. These include the proposal to have local and international products labelled and traceable and to increase the investment in Waste Management programmes so that nutrients which can be used for farming are not wasted.

Farmers are also asking for proper and detailed labelling system. As regards the farmers’ market, local fruit and vegetable producers have proposed setting up an independent official to manage the market. “The farmers’ market can only sell products which originate from Malta and include fruit, vegetables and fish. The market is also in need of a tent as protection from the sun and rain, and better access to public transport.”